Cochran Frog vs Coloma’s Glassfrog

Nymphargus cochranae compared with Nymphargus colomai

Key Differences

• Cochran Frog is Vulnerable while Coloma’s Glassfrog is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cochran Frog	Coloma’s Glassfrog
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Amphibia (Amphibians)	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order same	Anura (Frogs & Toads)	Anura (Frogs & Toads)
Family same	Centrolenidae	Centrolenidae
Genus same	Nymphargus	Nymphargus
Species	Nymphargus cochranae	Nymphargus colomai

Evolutionary Relationship

Cochran Frog and Coloma’s Glassfrog share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Nymphargus.

Conservation Status

Cochran Frog

VU — Vulnerable

Coloma’s Glassfrog

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cochran Frog	Coloma’s Glassfrog
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cochran Frog

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in Colombia. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Coloma’s Glassfrog

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Cochran Frog

The Cochran frog (Nymphargus cochranae) is a small glass frog in the family Centrolenidae, native to the cloud forests of the western and central Andes in Colombia. Like other centrolenid frogs, it is characterised by semi-transparent or translucent ventral skin through which internal organs — including the heart, liver, and digestive tract — are visible, a feature that gives the family its common name. The species inhabits humid montane rainforest along streams at elevations typically between 1,500 and 2,800 metres, where males call from vegetation overhanging fast-flowing streams to attract females. Eggs are deposited in gelatinous masses on leaves or rocks above the water; upon hatching, tadpoles drop into the stream below and develop in the current-swept environment. Nymphargus cochranae is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, primarily due to ongoing deforestation and degradation of cloud forest habitats driven by agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and coca cultivation across its Colombian Andean range. Glass frogs are additionally sensitive to stream water quality, making them useful bioindicators of watershed health. The species was named in honour of the eminent American herpetologist Doris Mable Cochran of the Smithsonian Institution, who made foundational contributions to Central and South American amphibian taxonomy in the mid-twentieth century. Continued habitat protection and reforestation efforts are critical for its long-term survival.

Coloma’s Glassfrog

<em>Nymphargus colomai</em>, commonly known as Coloma's Glassfrog, is an amphibian species belonging to the genus <em>Nymphargus</em> within the family Centrolenidae. Glassfrogs are named for their translucent ventral skin, through which internal organs are visible, a trait characteristic of this family. This species is classified as Endangered, indicating a high risk of extinction if current conditions and threats persist within its range. It inhabits freshwater-associated environments, moist forests, and wetland habitats typical of neotropical regions, where glassfrogs are typically found on vegetation near fast-flowing streams. Specific country-level distributional records are not detailed in current documentation. The reproductive biology of glassfrogs involves egg deposition on vegetation overhanging water, with hatching tadpoles dropping into streams below. Dietary information specific to this species has not been documented, though centrolenid frogs generally consume small invertebrates. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Threats facing <em>Nymphargus colomai</em> include deforestation, stream degradation, and the chytrid fungal disease affecting amphibians globally.